Dear Friends,
On December 3, 2015, the Prevent Cancer Foundation® celebrated 30
years—our pearl anniversary. It is hard to believe that three decades have
passed since I sat at my kitchen table and started the Foundation. To this
day, we are the only U.S. nonprofit organizaton dedicated solely to cancer
prevention and early detection.
A beautiful pearl is both admirable and valuable, created when an irritant
becomes trapped in an oyster shell. Cancer is our irritant—to put it
mildly—and from this burden we have created admirable, valuable pearls
of prevention. In the following pages, you’ll read more about the latest
pearls we’ve produced in research, education, outreach, advocacy and
more.
We have also ensured these pearls are at the forefront of every cancer
conversation by continuing to fund scientific breakthroughs and insisting
prevention and early detection be prioritized in the fight against cancer.
With recent controversies surrounding screening, particularly around how
frequently women should have mammograms, the Foundation has stood
firm in our message that screening matters and early detection saves lives.
The numbers are clear. In 1985, 910,000 new cancer cases were
diagnosed and 461,563 people died from these diseases. In 2015, 1.6
million new cancer cases were diagnosed and 595,690 people died from
these diseases. Diagnoses are increasing because—as the cancer-prone
population ages—more cancers are being detected, but mortality rates
have slowed because these diseases are being found at earlier, more
treatable stages.
This is good news, but we still have a lot of work to do. That’s why we
are continuing to support innovative, early-career scientists and educate
the public on how to reduce cancer risk. From the Iowa state fair to the
floor of the New York Stock Exchange, we are beating the drum for these
critical public health messages.
And now, our reach is greater than ever before. Our Breast Health
Education Guide has stretched across the country and around the world;
it’s been downloaded in 45 states and the District of Columbia, as well
as more than 20 countries outside the U.S. The Foundation also began
funding International Cancer Technology Transfer Fellowships, to rapidly
transfer cancer prevention and early detection knowledge and technology
to nations with limited access to vital, lifesaving equipment.
Our rallying cry was even heard by the White House, and Vice President
Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot Task Force named both prevention and
early detection as top priorities. The Moonshot set a goal to achieve
a decade’s worth of progress in five years, and the Prevent Cancer
Foundation® is dedicated to supporting the next administration and the
Cancer Moonshot program to achieve this vision.
2

With the support of our donors, researchers, volunteers and advocates, the Foundation has been
changing public perception about cancer. Cancer does not have to be something over which you have
no control: there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and give yourself and your loved ones the
best chance at a healthy life. You are your own best health advocate.
Thank you for being on our team as we create pearls of prevention and work
together to Stop Cancer Before It Starts!ÂŽ
Sincerely,

Carolyn R. AldigĂŠ
President and Founder
2016 ANNiversary REPORT

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Celebrating our
30th Anniversary
Ringing the Bell
In celebration of the Foundation’s 30th Anniversary and the launch of
the Think About the Link® campaign, the Prevent Cancer Foundation®
rang the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on
February 5, 2016.
Foundation leaders, board members, corporate supporters and
two individuals who had lost a family member to cancer shared the
honor of participating in the ceremony—a tribute to the impact of the
Foundation’s 30 years of saving lives through cancer prevention and
early detection.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is grateful to the NYSE and many of its
members, whose support makes possible several Foundation programs.

Celebrating 30 Years of Cancer Prevention
On December 3, 1985, Carolyn “Bo” Aldigé founded the Prevent
Cancer Foundation®. This year, the Foundation celebrated 30 years of
saving lives across all populations through cancer prevention and early
detection.
In recognition of this milestone, the Foundation hosted a reception to
honor Congressional Leaders in Cancer Prevention for their dedicated
service and commitment to our mission.
“Thirty years ago, prevention was not a part of the mainstream
conversation,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell, who was one of the
congressional leaders honored. “The Prevent Cancer Foundation was
at the forefront of responding to a critical public health need—and three
decades later they continue to beat the drum and make significant
contributions to cancer prevention and early detection.”
Left to right: Rep. Debbie Dingell and Carolyn Aldigé

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pearls of prevention

Pearls of Global Impact
International Technology Transfer Fellowships
In 2016, the Foundation began to fund International Cancer Technology Transfer
Fellowships, focusing on rapid transfer of knowledge and technology in cancer
prevention and early detection. The program was initiated through a partnership
with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), an international nonprofit
organization.The Technology Transfer Fellowships allow health care professionals
in poor nations to train on vital, lifesaving equipment for the early detection and
treatment of cancer at top research and cancer institutes around the world.
The first fellow supported by the Foundation was Ranjan Duggal, M.D., who was
trained at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. There, he was able
to implement his project, Immunohistochemical Approach in Poorly Differentiated
Genitourinary Malignancies Where Question of Prostatic Origin Is an Issue. Dr. Duggal
is on staff at Medata The Medicity, a well-known hospital in Delhi, India.
According to Dr. Duggal, implementing the tests with newer, more-specific markers of
prostate cancer will help his lab more correctly identify the origin of cancer in 25-30
percent of the poorly differentiated tumor samples, thus improving early diagnosis
and initiation of appropriate treatment. Dr. Duggal will then share his knowledge and
training with other hospitals in the region

Detecting Cancer in Rwanda
These days, you can use your cell phone to send emails, order takeout or do just
about anything. Now Philip Castle, Ph.D., is testing an innovative new use for
your phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;detecting cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is a disease linked to poverty. In fact, 76 percent of new cervical
cancer cases and 88 percent of deaths across the globe occur in developing
countries with minimal resources to vaccinate, screen or treat women for this
deadly disease.
This year, the Prevent Cancer FoundationÂŽ awarded Dr. Castle a grant to evaluate
the ability to detect cervical cancer early with new technology built on a mobile
phone base. This would have the potential to make cervical cancer screening
more available in low-resource countries where cervical cancer rates are still
high. This project is part of a larger study of cervical cancer in HIV-infected
women in Rwanda.
.
Funding for this
grant was made
possible by the 6th
annual Awesome
Games Done Quick
(AGDQ) speedrunning
marathon.

2016 ANNiversary REPORT

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Pearls of Research
2015 Partnership Award
Grantee: Valsamo Anagnostou, M.D., Ph.D.
Institution: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Partnership Award: IASLC/Prevent Cancer FoundationÂŽ/Richard C. Devereaux
What she will study: The prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) largely depends
on tumor stage, and low overall survival rates are attributed to late diagnosis, when the
tumor is either unresectable (cannot be completely removed by surgery) or metastatic.
The relapse rate even in early-stage resectable lung cancer patients is in the range of 3550 percent within 5 years after potentially curative treatment. Radiographic surveillance is
currently the gold standard for detection of recurrence, but it is limited in its efficacy for
predicting outcomes in early-stage NSCLC patients.
It is critical to develop sensitive and highly-specific molecular markers that will improve
the detection of recurrence in early-stage NSCLC patients and complement the predictive
value of radiographic imaging. Dr. Anagnostou hypothesizes that there are tumor subsets
in early-stage NSCLC with distinct somatic mutations, which reflect differences in clinical
outcome. She proposes a comprehensive genomic analysis of both the primary tumor, as
well as circulating cell-free DNA, in order to identify genomic alterations associated with
disease recurrence in early-stage NSCLC patients.

2015 AGDQ Awardee
Grantee: Dorraya El-Ashry, Ph.D.
Institution: University of Miami, Miami, FL
Named Award: Awesome Games Done Quick Grant
What she will study: In recent years, earlier detection
of breast cancer has dramatically improved treatment
success and clinical outcomes for breast cancer
patients. Nevertheless, the lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s share of deaths
associated with breast cancer are due to disease
metastasis, i.e., the spreading of breast cancer to
organ sites other than the breast, which can occur
years or decades after initial therapy.
Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs), non-cancer
cells that make up a large portion of a breast tumor,
produce key factors involved in breast cancer initiation
to progression, drug-resistance and metastasis, and,
critically, may be a target for therapeutic intervention in
breast cancer of all stages. Dr. El-Ashry hypothesizes
that CAFs are biomarkers indicative of breast cancer
metastasis, and may be key for early detection of
disease progression and metastasis.

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pearls of prevention

2015 Research Awardees
Grantee: Andrew Bostom, M.D.
Institution: Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
What he will study: “Non-melanoma” skin cancers and
pre-cancerous growths (actinic keratosis or “AKs”) develop at
high rates in kidney transplant patients. When they do develop
in these patients, they tend to be aggressive and require
frequent medical procedures, often surgery, for their removal.
If not removed, the pre-cancers can develop into skin cancers,
and the skin cancers may spread and even cause death.
It would be an important medical advance to reduce
the occurrence and complications of these skin
cancers and pre-cancers in kidney transplant patients
with a safe, effective, well-tolerated treatment taken
by mouth. Dr. Bostom and his team are testing oral
nicotinamide (NAM)—a B-vitamin compound—to
see if NAM treatment reduces the numbers of precancerous growths and “non-melanoma” skin cancers
in these patients.

Grantee: Katherine Cook, Ph.D.
Institution: Wake Forest
University Health Sciences,
Winston Salem, NC
Named Award: The Living
in Pink/Prevent Cancer
Partnership Award
What she will study: Several
studies have shown a strong link
between obesity and breast cancer;
an estimated three out of 10 breast
cancers may have been prevented if
the women were not overweight.

“This grant will

Dr. Cook’s preliminary data show that, compared to lean mice,
obese mice are more likely to develop breast cancer and to have a
worse response rate to endocrine-targeted therapies.

enable our group to
start investigating
the role of dietary fat
contribution to breast
as a basis for future
grant proposals in
order to continue
our research on this
important topic.”

2016 ANNiversary REPORT

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2015 Research Awardees
Fellowship Awardee: Nicole M. King, Ph.D.
Institution: Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
What she will study: Currently, there is no effective screening test for ovarian
cancer, and development of specific and sensitive biomarkers for ovarian cancer
remains a challenge.
A preliminary study using a small number of patients in Dr. King’s lab has shown
that a combination of serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) and free iron levels can
differentiate between early (stage I) ovarian cancer and healthy controls and
between early- and late-stage ovarian cancer.
Dr. King and her team will further test whether serum MPO and free iron can serve
as biomarkers for early detection of ovarian cancer alone or in combination with
commercially available tests for ovarian cancer. The outcome of this project is
significant, because the development of a sensitive and specific method for early
detection is widely recognized as a high priority to improve the diagnosis and
treatment of this deadly disease.

“I believe that we have a very novel finding that could lead to a more
effective biomarker for the early detection of ovarian cancer. The funding
[from the Prevent Cancer Foundation] will support the research needed to
improve upon current biomarkers, which lack the specificity and sensitivity
to clearly detect ovarian cancer at an early, more treatable stage.”

Fellowship Awardee: Brittany Lasseigne, Ph.D.
Institution: HudsonAlpha Institute for
Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL
Named Award: William J. Maier III Fellowship in
Cancer Prevention
What she will study: When tumors are confined to
the kidney, they can be surgically removed, and fiveyear survival rates are high. However, early symptoms
are rare, later symptoms are not easily recognizable
and there are no clinical biomarkers for early detection.
Once the cancer has spread outside the kidney, kidney
cancer becomes harder to treat and much deadlier.
“As a postdoctoral fellow, funding from
the Prevent Cancer Foundation will help
support my continued training and career
development in cancer genomics. I am
both honored and excited by this award.”

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pearls of prevention

Dr. Lasseigne has identified differences in DNA
between kidney tumors and normal tissue that can
easily distinguish them, even in early-stage patients.
These tissue biomarkers are strong candidates for
development of a clinical diagnostic test.
Their preliminary data suggest detection of these
biomarkers is possible in patient urine, which provides
an avenue for the development of a DNA-based
diagnostic, non-invasive test for the early detection of
kidney cancer.

Fellowship Awardee: Ranjan Preet, Ph.D.
Institution: University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, Inc., Kansas City, KS
Named Award: Lilly USA Research Award in Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
What she will study: A major factor contributing to colorectal tumor progression is overexpression
of oncogenes, inflammatory mediators and angiogenic growth factors.
Exosomes are small secreted vesicles that contain biological materials such as RNA and proteins
that can deliver this cargo to target cells. Tumor cells secrete higher amounts of exosomes that
contain oncogenic cargo, and colorectal cancer patients have higher levels of circulating blood
exosomes. This allows for their potential use as a disease marker.
The goals of this study are to characterize
a novel protein present in colorectal
cancer exosomes and to determine if it
can serve as a non-invasive biomarker
for colon cancer screening. The study
will characterize a novel protein that is
selectively secreted from colorectal cancer
cells, and Dr. Preet aims to explore this as
a potential biomarker for development of a
non-invasive blood-based detection method
for colorectal cancer.

Grantee: Victoria Seewaldt, M.D.
Institution: Beckman Research Institute of the
City of Hope, Duarte, CA
Named Award: The Green Flash Brewing
Company Grant in Cancer Prevention and
Early Detection
What she will study: Everyone knows a woman who
had a normal mammogram or biopsy, and despite her
“normal” results, went on to develop an aggressive
cancer. Part of the problem is that we know very little
about how aggressive breast cancers develop.

“I believe that prevention of biologically
aggressive early lesions represents the
best hope for preventing death from
biologically aggressive breast cancer.”

The majority of breast biopsies are evaluated by
appearance (morphology) and not by biology; however,
there is evidence that biology can sometimes be even
more important than morphology. In this study, Dr.
Seewaldt aims to test whether some breast biopsies
may look normal but have activation aggressive
biology that, if left unchecked, promotes rapid
progression to triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC).
Dr. Seewaldt’s hypothesis is that activation of this
network signaling predicts loss of nuclear expression
of BRCA1 (loss of function) and can be used to
improve early detection of TNBC.
2016 ANNiversary REPORT

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30
Thirty Years of Research

For the past three decades, the Prevent Cancer Foundation® has tirelessly advocated
for research on cancer prevention and early detection. When the Foundation was
launched in 1985, cancer prevention was not central to the conversation— most cancer
organizations at the time were focused on treatment, seeking the “magic bullet.”
Venturing into an area that was being overlooked by most, the Prevent Cancer
Foundation® began funding novel and potentially groundbreaking science in cancer
prevention and early detection. This includes studies in the areas of:

} tobacco cessation and other behavioral health and behavioral change;
} health equity, also known as “social determinants of cancer”;
} chemoprevention, both naturally occurring
compounds and pharmaceutical agents;

} dietary components that can cause or protect against cancer;
} dietary interventions to reduce obesity (second only to tobacco use as
a cause of cancer) and the links between inflammation and cancer;

} advanced technologies for early detection;
} biomarkers of early cancer;
} vaccines that prevent cancer and genetic links to cancer;
} environmental toxins that cause cancer; and
} effective ways to communicate cancer prevention
messaging to motivate people to take action.

In the preceding pages, you got a peek at the exciting projects we supported during
our last fiscal year. We are proud of the innovative research we have funded in the past
30 years, and look forward to new developments and future breakthroughs.

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pearls of prevention

Pearls of Education
Think About the Link®
In January, the Prevent Cancer Foundation® launched Think About the Link®, a national,
multi-year campaign to educate the public on the link between certain viruses and
cancer. This campaign focuses on human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and hepatitis
C, which are directly linked to at least seven types of cancer. Through Think About
the Link®, the Foundation aims to increase screening rates for the viruses, increase
vaccination rates for HPV and hepatitis B and raise awareness of available treatment
options for hepatitis B and C.
At any given time, one in every four people in the U.S. is infected with at least one strain
of HPV, a common virus that infects 14 million Americans each year. HPV is responsible
for more than 90 percent of anal and cervical cancers, about 70 percent of vaginal,
vulvar and oropharyngeal (back of the throat) cancers and more than 60 percent of penile
cancers. Hepatitis B and C are two of the leading causes of liver cancer, and in the next
10 years, approximately 150,000 people in the U.S. will die from liver cancer and endstage liver disease associated with these viruses.
Prior to the campaign’s launch, the Foundation surveyed more than 650 health care
professionals and 1,000 adults in the U.S. Survey results revealed a significant lack of
awareness about the link between viruses and cancer, demonstrating the need for greater
education and communication. Key findings include:

} 57 percent of adults are unaware the HPV vaccine can
significantly reduce the risk of certain cancers.

} 76 percent of adults are unaware the hepatitis B
vaccine can lower the risk of liver cancer.

Think About the Link® traveled to Harlem, New York to provide
screenings and educate the community on viruses and cancer.

35,000
Pieces
Mailed

2016 ANNiversary REPORT

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Pearls of Education
Evolution of the Quantitative Imaging Workshop
Challenges made, vision realized, lives saved.
The evolution of the Quantitative Imaging Workshop stands as a shining example of the
Foundation’s ability to move the needle on a nationwide scale by convening the right people
and facilitating crucial collaborations to change outcomes for people with lung cancer and other
tobacco-induced diseases.
Thirteen years ago, the Prevent Cancer Foundation® brought together oncologists, surgeons,
radiologists, measurement scientists, computer scientists and photonics experts to explore how
to use the fast-improving capability of spiral CT scans to improve outcomes for lung cancer.
The two most promising new possibilities were to better find early curable lung cancer with
screening and to use the increasing resolution of spiral CT to better assess response to new
treatments for early lung cancer. Since then, Workshop participants have contributed to the
development of an NCI-sponsored lung imaging database, and have collaborated with
industry experts and the Optical Society of America to develop open-source quantitation
tools.
The Workshop format has supported several types of software evaluations (known
in the field as “bake-offs”) to identify the most reproducibly precise way to measure
objects of interest using spiral CT. Most recently, the Workshop has been a catalyst
in advancing cross-disciplinary quantitative imaging analysis of CT scans as
a transformational tool for the integrated early detection of tobacco-induced
thoracic diseases, including COPD and cardiovascular disease.
The Foundation and Quantitative Imaging Workshop participants have also
successfully collaborated with other organizations to:

} Petition the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reimburse
the cost of lung cancer screening to the high-risk populations
indentified by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

} Consistently advocate for the routine integration of tobacco cessation

into all lung cancer screening efforts, to emphasize the complementary
value of the two preventive approaches.

} Identify an opportunity for harnessing large amounts of data as a

resource for examining the quality of CT scans and producing usable
measurements with existing tools.

In June 2016, the Workshop and its partners issued the first ever crowdsourced challenge, asking imaging facilities to submit their CT scanning
protocols to determine the best CT settings and imaging techniques for
screening sites to obtain accurate early lung cancer imaging. This is another
Workshop milestone, as it provides a model for building a national image
quality infrastructure for clinical applications of quantitative imaging. This
workshop continues to bring innovation to integrate quantitative imaging into
robust approaches to significantly reduce the lethal impact of lung cancer.

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pearls of prevention

Breast Health Education Guide Downloads

Breast Health Education
The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Breast Health Education for Young
Women: Facilitator’s Guide is designed to increase young women’s
skills and knowledge about breast health. This user-friendly education
tool provides current breast cancer screening and breast selfawareness guidelines and has been utilized by communities around the
world to teach young women about breast health and breast cancer.
The Guide was revised in 2016 to include new information, such as
recent research that shows eating fruits and vegetables in adolescence
may lower your risk of cancer later on.
Guides have been downloaded and shared in 45 states, the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as Australia, Bangladesh, Bermuda,
Canada, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, Moldova, Nigeria, Papua
New Guinea, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania and the United
Arab Emirates.
Translation and cultural adaptation of the Guide for Spanish-language
groups was also completed in 2016 and will be shared with Spanishspeaking communities in the coming year.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation® held its 18th annual Dialogue
for Action®, April 6-8, 2016, in Baltimore, Maryland. In past
years, the focus of this annual conference has been on colorectal
cancer screening. Since 2013, Dialogue for Action® has
expanded to include the mandated guidelines-driven cancer
screenings (colorectal, cervical, breast and now lung cancer
screenings) and cover issues related to other cancer screenings
(e.g., prostate, oral and skin). All participants are encouraged to
take the dialogue back to their communities and workplaces to
promote appropriate screening.
Topics at the 2016 Dialogue included big data; key legislation;
prevention initiatives to reduce health disparities; the Vice
President’s Cancer Moonshot initiative; updates on screening
guidelines; patient navigation; and a discussion on food and
cancer prevention.

Dr. Kristi Funk (left) gave the opening
keynote address on improving health
equity and breast cancer incidence
and death rates. Dr. Funk runs the
Pink Lotus Breast Center in California
where she treats the rich and famous,
as well as uninsured women in need of
education, screening and treatment.

Dr. Walter Willett (right) served as
the closing keynote speaker. He is
a renowned physician and nutrition
researcher from the Harvard T.H. Chan
School of Public Health. He discussed
the importance of eating more fruits
and vegetables while limiting red
meats, and how food impacts the
development of cancer.
We are proud to serve a diverse
group of stakeholders and provide
an opportunity to learn, discuss and
collaborate to equip participants with
concrete tools and effective strategies
for use in both clinical and public
health settings.

Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program
The Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program celebrated its 25th anniversary
year and capped it off with its annual Action for Cancer Awareness Awards Luncheon.
Honorees were Senate spouse Franki Roberts; Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of
“The Emperor of All Maladies;” Sharon Rockefeller, whose efforts resulted in a PBS
series based on Mukherjee's book; and lifestyle guru Sandra Lee, for their outstanding
contributions in creating awareness of cancer prevention and early detection. More than
50 congressional spouses and 20 members of the House and Senate attended, along
with members of the diplomatic corps and leaders in the cancer community.
Throughout the year, the Program hosted educational events on Capitol Hill. This
included a briefing on “Aging Audaciously,” which began with welcoming remarks by
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, co-founder of the Congressional Cancer Prevention
Caucus. The discussion focused on preventing cancer and other diseases of aging.
Panelists Dr. Lisa Nelson and Dr. Eugenia Victoria Ellis presented to the group and
answered questions.
The value of mindfulness, meditation and their role in disease prevention were the
subject of another briefing the Program held in the U.S. Capitol. Congressman Tim
Ryan, who wrote a book on this topic, discussed with spouses how groups in their
home states could benefit from practices that reduce stress. Expert Patrick Coffey also
presented. Meditation is often incorporated into cancer treatment plans and is a useful
tool to help prevent cancer by improving overall health.
The Program continues its national outreach by offering op-eds and other
communication tools to its more than 200 members, enabling them to use their unique
platforms to raise awareness and reduce cancer risk.

2016 ANNiversary REPORT

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Pearls of Outreach
Mammovan
Early detection of breast cancer is critical for successful treatment outcomes, but not every
woman has the means or access to get yearly mammograms. That’s why George Washington
University Breast Care Center, supported by the Prevent Cancer Foundation®, created a
mobile mammography unit, also known as the Mammovan. The Mammovan provides free
mammograms to uninsured and underinsured women in the District of Columbia, Maryland
and Northern Virginia who otherwise might not have access to screenings.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® has been supporting the Mammovan for more than 20
years, and has provided nearly $4 million in funding for the Mammovan since 1995. To date,
more than 43,000 mammograms have been performed in the mobile mammography unit, and
138 breast cancer cases have been diagnosed. Every woman with abnormal results receives
follow-up diagnosis and treatment, regardless of her ability to pay.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is proud of our continued support of the George
Washington University Mammovan and grateful for all your contributions that make this
valuable program possible.

“The wonderful work done by the Mammovan team would not be
possible without the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s long-standing support!”
—Bathsheba Philpott, CFRE, Director, Institutional Giving
The George Washington University, School of Medicine & Health Sciences

¡Celebremos la Vida!
For the past 22 years, ¡Celebremos la Vida! (Let’s Celebrate Life!) has been ensuring
Latinas receive free/low-cost comprehensive breast and cervical cancer screenings and
education in a setting that is culturally appropriate and nurturing.
Our bilingual, bicultural patient navigators have helped participants through more 48,000
screening and follow-up services and educational interactions.
The Campeonas contra el cancer de seno (Champions against Breast Cancer) project
addresses health disparities in breast cancer screening rates for Latinas. The program
offers training for Latinas to share their own breast cancer screening experiences with
friends and family members to encourage them to get screened.
Partnering with faith-based and medical institutions, the Foundation ensures that any
women screened through ¡Celebremos! will receive all needed diagnostic services and
follow-up care, the hallmarks of a successful screening program.
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pearls of prevention

American Indian/Alaska Native Activities
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® has been making a difference in
American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities since 2007
through grants that support powwows, traditional food guides,
colorectal cancer screening, community grants and numerous
other cancer prevention projects. Our grants have enabled groups
across Indian Country to implement cancer initiatives tailored to their
individual communities and cultural needs.
Compared to other Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives
generally have disproportionately high cancer rates and low cancer
screening rates. This means many American Indians and Alaska
Natives are at increased risk of cancer and cancer may be diagnosed
at later stages.
The Foundation’s support and involvement with the AI/AN community
have included developing and distributing a culturally-tailored Guide
to Preventable Cancers for American Indians and Alaska Natives:
Steps to Wellness for You and Your Family, as well as hosting
sessions at the annual Dialogue for Action® conference for sharing
cancer screening and educational resources among groups serving
American Indian communities. Many representatives from the AI/AN
community come to the Dialogue each year to identify ways they can
work collectively to combat cancer in Indian Country.

“This [screening] is the only
reason I come to the fair.”

State Fair Health Awareness
and Screening Booths
Since 1993, Prevent Cancer Foundation® has
been reaching out to rural populations with
messages of cancer prevention and screening
at annual state fairs. By partnering with local
clinics and members of Congress who share
our interest in cancer education and screening,
the Foundation brings cancer screenings to the
people and encourages healthy behaviors in
thousands of state fair visitors every year.
The Foundation has provided cancer screening
and education services at state fairs in Kansas,
Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota,
Ohio and South Dakota.

“My grandfather died from lung cancer, and to see
him suffer through it makes me want to always [be]
sure I am checked to prevent cancer from either
happening or spreading so I can be around longer
than cancer allow[ed] him [to be].”
— Iowa State Fair visitor
2016 ANNiversary REPORT

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Pearls of Influence

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pearls of prevention

2016 ANNiversary REPORT

19

Pearls of Advocacy
Advocating for Research in Prevention
and Access to Care
We know that prevention, screening and early detection save lives. That’s why the
Prevent Cancer Foundation® has two main advocacy goals: 1) increase research
into new methods of cancer prevention and early detection and 2) increase access
to preventive health for everyone.
Right now, there are only a handful of cancers that we know how to prevent, or that
are detectable early through regular screenings. We want to expand that number—
that’s why we support innovative research. This past year, the Foundation has
been part of a coalition supporting 21st Century Cures, which would modernize
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH),
provide support for new researchers and increase the budget for the FDA and NIH.
Additionally, we’ve joined with other organizations supporting increased funding for
the NIH and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and we’ve fought to make sure that
funding for research in prevention is a priority.
We’ve also supported legislation to increase access to colorectal cancer screening,
supported the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which provides grants to
community health organizations and underserved communities, and worked with
other organizations to successfully ensure that all women ages 40 and older have
coverage for annual mammograms.
We will continue our work in advocating for new preventive measures and ensuring
everyone has access to and coverage for the cancer screenings they need. Make
your voice heard on these issues and more by joining our growing advocacy
network, and help us make a difference in preventive health.

Right now, there are only a
handful of cancers that we
know how to prevent, or that
are detectable early through
regular screenings. We want
to expand that number—
that’s why we support
innovative research.

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pearls of prevention

Pearls of Support
22nd Annual Spring Gala
The 2016 Annual Spring Gala, La Vie En Rose, was held under the honorary patronage of
His Excellency, the Ambassador of France, Gérard Araud. The Gala attracted nearly 1,000
people and raised more than $1.5 million to support cancer research fellowships and
community outreach programs.
In his remarks, Ambassador Araud highlighted the Foundation’s role in making cancer
prevention a priority. “Tonight we recommit ourselves to fighting cancer and going further
in the fight against cancer,” he said. “The Prevent Cancer Foundation® plays a very
specific role in the cancer fight…what it has achieved is transformative.”
The evening featured the 2016 Cancer Champion awards, which were presented to House
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton and Representative Diana
DeGette for their work on the 21st Century Cures Act. The late Congressman Mike Oxley,
who died of lung cancer on New Year’s Day 2016, was honored during the “Lighting the
Way to Prevention” pledge drive with a heartfelt tribute from his son, Elvis.
The Gala is widely recognized as one of the signature charity events of the year and was
covered by Bisnow, Hollywood on the Potomac, Georgetown Dish and Washington Life.
The Gala décor was personally designed by celebrity party planner David Tutera, who is
a member of the Foundation’s Board and was in attendance at the event. Tutera’s filming
of a Prevent Cancer PSA was featured in an episode of David Tutera’s “CELEBrations” on
WE TV last year.
Next year’s Gala will salute Italy and will be held on March 10, 2017. It will honor His
Excellency, the Ambassador of Italy, Armando Varricchio, and Mrs. Varricchio.

His Excellency, the Ambassador of France,
Gérard Araud

Board members David Tutera and the
Hon. Vic Fazio surround Carolyn “Bo Aldigé

2016 ANNiversary REPORT

21

Pearls of Support
No-Shave November
The No-Shave November movement was started in 2009
by Matthew Hill’s eight children after they lost their father to
colon cancer in November 2007.
Participants ditch their razors for the month of November and
donate the cost of grooming to the cause—many also solicit
donations from family and friends. Even the men from NBC’s
“Today” show got in on the action, and Foundation staff and
supporters were on set to cheer them on as they shaved their
beards at the end of the month.
Thanks to everyone who #LETITGROW, No-Shave November
donated nearly $400,000 to the Prevent Cancer Foundation®.

Awesome Games Done Quick
Awesome Games Done Quick is an annual live-streamed
video game marathon organized in support of the Prevent
Cancer Foundation®. Hundreds of all-star gamers from
around the world meet in Virginia to “speedrun”—or play
as fast as possible—their favorite video games. Gamers
all around the globe tune in online and donate to the
Foundation.
Thanks to these incredible donors, the 2016 Awesome
Games Done Quick marathon raised $1.2 million. These
funds are being used to support research grants, a lung
cancer fellowship, six International Cancer Technology
Transfer fellowships and more.

A Rainy Day is No Match for
the Prevent Cancer 5K
Planning for the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s
7th annual 5k Walk/Run had been going on for
months; but when the big day arrived, Hurricane
Joaquin had different plans. Despite the weather,
hundreds braved the rain and cold to walk or run
along the Capitol Riverfront and raise $200,000
for prevention and early detection.
After drying off, participants explored the Health
Fair and got skin checks, oral cancer screenings,
nutrition counseling, flu shots and more.
The Prevent Cancer 5k provided the perfect
opportunity to start building healthy habits to
Stop Cancer Before It Starts!®

22

pearls of prevention

Donor Spotlight:
Maya Warren
Nine-year-old
Maya Warren
proved that you
don’t have to be
big to make a
big impact.

Maya proved that when she took on the Typhoon Texas Kids Triathlon on May 23 in memory of her dad. Months
earlier, her father died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, but while he was in the hospital, doctors
learned he was also suffering from cancer.
“I don’t want anyone else to not know they have cancer,” Maya said when she chose to raise money for the
Prevent Cancer Foundation®.
Triathlon participants could choose to take part in the “Onurmark Giving Challenge,” which allowed each
Typhoon Texas Kid to pick a charity and fundraise. Maya worked hard to compete in memory of her father. She
raised $1,300 for the Foundation and won first place in the giving challenge.
Maya is one of our youngest donors—and one of our most inspiring. Her work will help fund groundbreaking
research and lifesaving education and screening programs so more people can prevent cancer or detect it early,
when it is most treatable.
As Maya says, “Together we can change a small part of our world!”

Alan Dye
“The Prevent Cancer Foundation® has made a solid impact
on cancer prevention. My law firm represents hundreds of
charities, and many of them have been start-ups. It is the
rare start-up charity with success like [the Foundation’s], and
I think a lot of that success has to do with the cooperative
attitude adopted from the outset.
When we first started out, many of the other charities in the
cancer space viewed us as competitors for donor dollars. As
time went on, most of them recognized that Prevent Cancer
Foundation was not interested in competing, but in acting
cooperatively to beat these diseases. That is largely due to Bo
Aldigé’s leadership, and it has been a pleasure to be part of it.”
—Alan Dye, long-time donor and founding board member

2016 ANNiversary REPORT

23

Pearls of Support
“We are
impressed by
the Foundation’s
spending more
on programs
than other
organizations.”
– Alan Cerwick,
President,
VP Racing Fuels

Raising funds with the motorsport community
From students in the District of Columbia to poker players in New York, the
Prevent Cancer Foundation® has worked with many diverse groups to raise
funds for cancer prevention and early detection. One community we had never
connected with, however, is the motorsport and racing community. That all
changed in 2012 when the Foundation was contacted by VP Racing Fuel, which
sells race fuel for all motorsports on land, sea and air.
Motorsports rank as one of the most popular sports in America, and, with fans
across the country, this group is large, enthusiastic and growing. But the field
is still largely dominated by men, so in an effort to help diversify the sport, VP
Racing Fuel decided to sell pink fuel containers to help combat breast cancer.
Originally, the fundraiser was set to run only during the month of October
(National Breast Cancer Awareness Month). But the fundraiser proved to be so
popular, VP Racing Fuel decided to keep it going year-round. They donate a
percentage of all profits to the Prevent Cancer Foundation®—and double the
percentage during October.
Since the program’s inception, VP Racing Fuel has donated nearly $38,000 to
the Foundation. When VP Racing first started selling the pink fuel containers,
“We didn’t know what to expect,” said Steve Scheidker, Director of Marketing at
VP Racing Fuel. “But if I’ve learned anything in my time in this industry, it’s that
those involved in racing having a magnanimous spirit.” We couldn’t agree more.
24

Robert W. Day, M.D., Ph.D.
President and Director, Emeritus
Member, Public Health Sciences Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center
Professor, Health Services School of Public Health
and Community Medicine
University of Washington

Raymond M. Dubois, M.D., Ph.D.
Dean, College of Medicine
Medical University of South Carolina

“I decided to donate to an organization that concentrates
on the cause and prevention more so than creating drugs
for treatment. I’ve always believed that preventing in the
first place is better than creating more drugs.”
– Donor since 1989
2016 ANNiversary REPORT

27

Ways to Give
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® relies on donations from supporters like you to achieve our
mission of saving lives across all populations through cancer prevention and early detection.
Thank you for your continued generosity and support. Here are several ways you can
support the Prevent Cancer Foundation® today:

Direct Giving
Every dollar donated to the Prevent Cancer Foundation® makes a difference in cancer prevention and
early detection. Make a donation of cash or equities to support this lifesaving work.

Honorary/Memorial Giving
Recognize special milestones in your loves ones’ lives or celebrate the life of someone you’ve lost by
bestowing a gift to the Prevent Cancer Foundation® in their honor or memory. When the Foundation
receives your gift, we will promptly send a personalized tribute card to the person or family you are
honoring.

SUSTAINED GIVING
Monthly or annually recurring gifts provide the Foundation with a reliable source of funds. You can
arrange to have a predetermined gift amount automatically charged to your credit card on a regular
basis.

PLANNED GIVING
Estate gifts benefit the Prevent Cancer Foundation® and present the opportunity for tax benefits and
income for you and your family. There are many gifting options, ranging from a bequest in your will to
various types of charitable trusts. Talk to your financial adviser or attorney about the best way to make
an estate gift to the Foundation.

WORKPLACE GIVING
Workplace donations are a simple way to donate to the Foundation through payroll deduction plans.
You can designate your gift to the Foundation through the Combined Federal Campaign or other
employee giving programs. Talk to your Human Resources or Charitable Giving Department to learn
more about your company’s employee giving programs, and ask about a matching gift program that
could double the impact of your support!

“Thank you for all you have done to bring attention to cancer and its
treatment and prevention. You have touched many lives, including mine,
and we are grateful.”
– Diana Enzi, wife of Senator Mike Enzi

Legacy Members and Lifetime Friends
The Edward Perry
Richardson
Legacy Society
Edward Perry Richardson was the
father of Carolyn R. Aldigé, president
and founder of the Prevent Cancer
Foundation®. His struggle against
cancer inspired her to establish the
organization and his memory has
sustained Prevent Cancer’s mission
of saving lives across all populations
through cancer prevention and early
detection. Members of the Edward
Perry Richardson Legacy Society are
special friends of the Prevent Cancer
Foundation® who have committed to
ensuring the legacy of Prevent Cancer
by naming it as a beneficiary in their will,
charitable gift annuity, charitable trust,
individual retirement account or life
insurance policy, or have made a gift of
real estate or tangible personal property.

Memorial and
Honor Tributes
These tributes are special ways to honor
friends, loved ones and colleagues.
Honor gifts often mark a special
occasion like Mother’s or Father’s Day,
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs or a birthday. Many
couples also designate the Prevent
Cancer Foundation® as a recipient
of contributions in lieu of wedding or
shower gifts. In return, the Foundation
sends a card acknowledging these
thoughtful donations.

The Doll Society
($25,000 and above)
Sir William Richard Shaboe Doll, a
distinguished British physician and
epidemiologist, was the first scientist to
establish the link between smoking and
lung cancer. This singular discovery led
scientists to identify a genetic mutation
which is caused by chemicals found in
tobacco smoke.

The Burkitt
Society
($10,000 to $24,999)
Denis Parsons Burkitt was the
pioneering British surgeon who first
discovered that some cancers could be
cured with chemotherapy. He is also
known for associating a low-fiber diet
with many of the serious diseases in
Western society.

The Peto Society
($5,000 to $9,999)
Sir Richard Peto is a distinguished
physician and epidemiologist whose
1981 research at Oxford University
with Sir William Doll connected diet
and cancer. This work, along with that
of other investigators, confirmed that
35 percent of certain cancers may be
prevented by eating a healthy diet.

The Devereaux
Society
($1,000 to $4,999)
In 1993, Leslie Cameron Devereaux
established the Richard C. Devereaux
Outstanding Young Investigator Award
in memory of her father who died of
lung cancer. This grant or fellowship
supports promising lung cancer
prevention research.

The Keshishian
Society
($500 to $999)
Harold M. Keshishian was a founding
board member of the Prevent Cancer
Foundation®. His leadership and
commitment to Prevent Cancer’s
mission helped change the landscape of
cancer prevention and early detection
for generations of individuals affected
by cancer.

The Pitt Society
($250 to $499)
Robert H. Pitt was the first chairman of
the Foundation’s board of directors. His
commitment, wisdom and leadership
played an instrumental role in the
Foundation’s growth.

IBM Retiree Charitable Campaign
Jamison & Sullivan, Inc.
Neusolis, LLC
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
United Way of Houston
Valley of the Sun United Way

Beneficiary Events
Individuals and organizations select
the Prevent Cancer Foundation® to
be the beneficiary of funds raised
through events they organize and
host. Beneficiary events vary in size
and type, and include everything from
lemonade stands, art shows, water ski
competitions and online video games,
to fantasy football and silent auctions.

In-Kind Donors
The following donors have supported
the Prevent Cancer Foundation® with inkind gifts and services during the year.

Individuals
Her Excellency,
the Ambassador of Ireland,
Anne Anderson
His Excellency,
the Ambassador of Italy,
and Mrs. Bisogniero
Her Excellency,
the Ambassador of Liechtenstein,
Claudia Fritsche
Her Excellency,
the Ambassador of Monaco,
Maguy Maccario Doyle
His Excellency,
the Ambassador of Portugal,
and Mrs. Vital